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PROS

CONS

Touch controls leave a lot to be desired; hard to maintain rapid fire or aim accurately - both have deadly repercussions for your hero.

Menus use double and single touch confirmation almost at random; easy to quit accidentally with no ability to continue.

No direct iCade support yet.

VERDICT

METAL SLUG 3 is an admirable attempt at bringing SNK's (at the time) swan-song title for the series back to life; the controls don't quite live up to the original Arcade sticks, but it's a small price to pay if you love the series.

Full Review

App Store Info

[Editor Update: It seems the iCade support is not 'official' - that is to say, without modifications, physical controls are not yet available for METAL SLUG 3. Hopefully this can be added in a later update.]

If there's one game most responsible for causing me to waste my time at an arcade, it's probably NFL Blitz, but in a close runner-up is the METAL SLUG series in all of its incarnations. No matter which version or where I see it, I'll pump credits in to it. There have been many pretenders to the throne on the App Store, and even a few games bold enough to completely steal art assets, but the real-deal has finally arrived with METAL SLUG 3 thanks to DotEmu and SNK PLAYMORE.

However, before you jump straight on to the App Store in an almost knee-jerk twitch, be warned, this is a brutally challenging game and all the more so thanks to controls that could be best described as 'spotty'. If you happen to have an iCade, you're in luck as it's reported to be compatible, and all downsides related to controls can be ignored - jump in and start shooting away.

For everyone else, a configuration screen can be used to set the controls to your liking, but whether you play on a small or a large screen, it's difficult, bordering on impossible to replicate the same snappy response of an 8-way joystick and large buttons. As such you'll be feeling the cold-clammy grasp of death over and over, though you can always continue (albeit losing bonuses for rescuing POWs in the process).

If you need a couple reasons for biting the bullet and playing the game anyway, firstly you can succor yourself with the knowledge that Bluetooth co-op is available so you can nuke zombies and armored crabs simultaneously. Secondly, and more obviously, this is Metal Slug 3 - a game packed with oodles of features thanks in part to SNK's impending bankruptcy at the time of its creation.

One major improvement is the branching path system that allows players to complete a stage in one of several different ways, each leading to the same final boss, but providing unique challenges along the way. Better still, the vehicles the series is so famous for have been bolstered with a host of new ways to destroy the Rebel forces, be it from the back of an Ostrich or Elephant, or on a Rocket in space.

For those more concerned about presentation, the game has several options including video processing to smooth the pixels (my personal preference is to turn this off), and scanline emulation is also available in 50 and 100% options. Playing on the latest iDevices had the games running silky smooth, even when explosions and enemy corpses were flying around the screen.

Ultimately the pricey purchase will depend on how much you love the METAL SLUG series and whether or not you own an iCade or similar compatible device. It's easy enough to forgive the controls given the spectacular gameplay, but prepare to chew down continues like there's no tomorrow.

The legendary NEOGEO 2D action shooting masterpiece “METAL SLUG 3” heads out to iPhone devices! Use various weapons and slugs to fight your way through and survive on the battlefield!!

■Not only a perfect port of the original NEOGEO game!
In addition to its classic “ARCADE MODE”, this perfect conversion of “METAL SLUG 3” includes a “MISSION MODE”, allowing you to select in which stage you want to play!
You can now train yourself in your favorite stages or those which give you a hard time!

■ Command many Slug vehicles like an ace!
The Slugs are back and more colourful than ever, with Slug Mariners, Drill Slugs, and Elephant Slugs joining the original Metal Slugs and Slugnoids!!

■ Clear all routes via the branching map system!!
A branching map system allowing you to take a different route to the end with each play-through, and an immense map of endless gameplay awaits you in “METAL SLUG 3”!!

■Intense cooperative gameplay via the Bluetooth function!
"METAL SLUG 3” can be doubly enjoyed by playing with another brother-in-arms simultaneously via the Bluetooth function!
Will you be able to clear the hardest stages with your friends?

■Compatible with “GAME CENTER”!
Complete the maximum number of “ACHIEVEMENTS” in order to increase your "METAL SLUG 3" Player Rank!
Beat the best scores and become World’s Number 1!!